Spokane Public Schools, SEA ratify contract to increase salaries

SPOKANE, Wash. -An agreement between Spokane Public Schools and the Spokane Education Association was ratified Thursday night, increasing salaries by an average of 14.3 percent.

According to SPS, the agreement includes a 13.32 percent overall increase for teaching and other certificated staff. That agreement covers 180 school days and the equivalent of 10 additional training, parent-teacher conference, and certificated-staff education days.

The agreement modifies the compensation terms for the final year of a three-year contract between SPS and the SEA, which ends on August 31, 2019. Teachers voted to ratify the new contract with a 98% approval rate, with over 1,500 voting in favor.

Also included in the agreement is 19 hours of compensated time for each certificated employee who partake in Professional Enrichment Responsibility Time, which pertains to participating in activities related to professional learning outside the regular contracted workday.

The new agreement additionally provides an overall increase of 11.5% for support staff represented by the SEA, ranging from 7% to 21.77%, for the lowest paid hourly employees.

The School Board is scheduled to vote on the ratification of the agreement at its regular meeting on September 12, 2018.